Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-02
LEGISLATION ON A RUSH
EDMUNDs STILL POSING AS A
STUMBLING BLOCK.


STUMBLING BLOCK.
rba senate Knocks the Wind Out of His
Sails in One Instance in "A Very Sig
niacant Manner-The Conference Re-
mort on the River and Harbor Bill
Agreed to by Both Houses.
WASHINGTON, March LIN the Senate
to.dav. while the journal OF yesterday
was being read, Mr.. Edmunds had three
occasions proving that he was still de-
,ormined to elnsist on the regular and
orderlv transaction of business" and
not to Weld to any effort to hurry up the
proceedings. First, Mr.. Cameron moved
70 disnense with the reading of the Jour
nal. and then MIR. Hale asked leave to in
terrupt the reading, in order to have the
naval appropriation bill referred to the
Committee on Appropriations. and again
Mr. Sherman moved to dispense with fur
tber reading of the journal, to all of which
rronositions Mr.. Edmunds objected, and
so the reading of the journal was pro-
needed with, occupying TIVE nty minutes
Of time.
Mr.. Hoar. from the Committee on Privi-
Aeges and Elections, reported back the
credentials of Senators Stockbridge, OF
Michigan, and Turpie, of Indiana, to-
pether with the protest OF the TWO houses
Of the Indiana Legislature in the latter
case and moved that they be placed on
lie and the committee be discharged from
their further consideration. 1t was so
ordered. MIR. HOar also reported a reso-
lution authorizing the committee to Sit
dnrino the recess and continue an inves-
tigati0n heretofore ordered into the al
leged ballot box outrage i'll Texas. Ihls
was reterred to the Committee on Con-
tingenJ Expenses.
THE NAVAL BILL.
The naval appropriation bill was read
the second time and referred to the Com
mlttee on Appropriations.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr..
Soerman for fixing the hour for meeting
at IL O'Clock in the morning was adopted.
The Senate then proceeded to consdera-
ton Of the pension bills on the calendar.
All pension bills on the calendar, tlfty-
seven in number, were passed, the time
cccupie being just twenty-five minutes.
Tue bills on the calendar to remove
charges of desertion were then taken up,
and all of them. seventeen in number,
were passed, the reading of the report
being called for in only one case, and all
being disposed Of in less that twenty
minutes.
Mr.. Hale, from the Committee on Ap-
prOpnations, reported back the naval ap-
propriation bill with amendments. 1t
was ordered printed and placed on the
calendar.
conference was ordered on the con-
sular and diplomatic bill, and Senators
| Allison, Hale and Beck were appointed
cOnferees on the part of the Sen ate,
RIVERS AND HARBoRs.
The conference report on the river and
barbor bill was presented by Mr.. McMil-
Ian, aud explained The bill as it came
from the House originally appropriated.
be said, 81. ASS, 900. AS it passed the Sem
ate it appropriated $l0,620,000. AS now
reported from the conference committee
it appropriated $9,9l3, 800. The details of
the changes were set outin paper which
be sent to the Clerks d. SIX and had read,
Mr.. Edmunds moved TO postpone further
consideration until tomorrow, in order
that be might have time to examine one
or TWO items which had attracted his at
tenton. The motion was defeated by
yeas TO 81 nays.
The reading OF the bill was then CON-
menced. 1t was Interrupted for the fol-
lowing proceedings:
Mr.. Platt inquired of Mr. Hoar the
meaning and effect Of the report made
ms morning from the Committee on
Privileges and Elections in the case OF
senator elect Turpie, of Indiana. Mr..
doar replied that under general rule OF
'he Senate the functions of that
committee expire with this Con.
grPss, and all its papers
are returned to the Senate and placed
op ME. If the credentials of MIR. Turpie
lad Oeen retained by the committee with
Udt actlon until noon of March 4, the
ming (under the operation of that gen.
ral rule) would then have happened
muich rad happened this morning, that is,
.ue papers would have gone on tn files OF
tne senate and the committee would have
een discharged from their further con-
uefatl0n- The only alternative TO that
ourse would have been an assumption
Tee committee or by the Senate at the
resent session to deal with the crede n
as OF gentleman claiming to be a Sem
ur,eiect before the time had arrived fol
beginning Of his term and before he
Tau presented himself.
A CONTINUING BODY.
1ne senate was con ntinuing body, and
was therefore possible that it might be
,uil It's Constitutional power to deter.
Ds IA advance the right OF Senator to
Soa,, put 1t would be violation o
ilutional precedents, and il would
,sa ~ MS Judgment, a violation OF the
en, @ oi justice and propriety of the
sot sa" ana OF the American people. The
ro. ros IaeTeiore, OF the report was simply
rIand to The action OF the Senate, 70
tSa1! "Seh alter March without prejud ice
Bac,S1 pelng III the least
hcS ny any action now, any question
tT at rl1 any person might see fit TO raise.
= ga .%' was was all. No prejudice tor, no proiu-
i've "talhst 5iIIt any person who might con.
- na,o NinmSelt entitled 70 seat in the
,m, hereafter would arise, or had
nmi,. n,t III consequence OF the action OF the
/, NJ 1'TtI,e ~, or of the Senate this morning,
90 |Lnunds, from the judiciary Com.
now reported back tho House bill
nnnns lhe POLITICAL disabilities oil